Universal sleeve tool



Jan. 2, 1962 A. T. DE FINO UNIVERSAL SLEEVE TOOL Filed Sept. 25 1959 R. 00 M. ML ma 0 I A ATTOR/Vf Y United States Patent 3,015,422 UNIVERSAL SLEEVE TOOL Anthony T. De Fino, 2712 SW. 12th St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Sept. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 842,284 4 Claims. (Cl. 22374) This invention relates to wearing apparel, to the care and preservation of the same, and to equipment employed in conditioning and maintaining such apparel ready for use.

The invention relates particularly to equipment found in cleaning and pressing establishments and in possession of valets and used for cleaning, pressing and repairing garments and having specifically to do with extending and maintaining in such extended condition the sleeves of garments after they have been laundered or cleaned.

Devices for extending and maintaining the sleeves of garments extended have been produced of various kinds but these have not been fully satisfactory because they were flimsy, expensive, complicated, cumbersome and difficult to handle, and sometimes caused injury either to the apparel or to the operator, and have been subject to criticism for other reasons.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive sleever or device capable of be- I ing readily inserted in the end of a sleeve and readily adjustable to accommodate itself to the dimensions of the sleeve, as well as a device with a soft surface which will not cause injury to the fabric of the sleeve and with a cross strap which will form a barrier to steam to facilitate full steam treatment of the sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sleever ha ving arms pivotally connected atone end and with sleeve engaging generally semi-cylindrical members pivotally mounted on the other end and joined by a connecting strap at their outer ends with the pivotally connected arms urged apart by a spring which with the strap will cause the semi-cylindrical members to be disposed at the proper angular position for engagement with the linings or interior of the sleeve and with the generally similar cylindrical members and arms having a soft, replaceable covering.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sleever composed of a pair of elongated members with converging pivotally connected portions at one end, the outer surfaces of the said members being fluted, or having alternate hills and valleys to facilitate gripping on opposite sides and with the free ends of said elongated members provided with pivoted extensions the remote surfaces of which are rounded or curved so that when they are inserted in a sleeve they will engage the interior of the same, such pivoted members having a covering with a connecting strap at their outer ends for limiting the outward movement of the arms and the pivoted members connected therewith and thereby disposing the pivoted members at a proper angle for engagement with the sleeve.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one application of the invention;

FIG. 2, a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary perspective of the hinge on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a section through the hinge on the line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6, a view illustrating the use of the device in a sleeve and about to be removed therefrom.

Briefly stated, the invention is a sleever composed of a pair of elongated members channel shaped in cross section and having end portions curved toward each other and connected by a pivot about which a spring is located, the ends of which urge the elongated members apart so that the distance between them can be varied to accommodate sleeves of different sizes. A generally semi-cylindrical sleeve engaging member is pivoted on each of the free ends of such elongated members, and a strap connects their outer ends and causes the members to fit snugly within opposite portions of a sleeve. The elongated members preferably also are provided with a cloth covering which may be in the form of an open end sleeve applied endwise over the free ends of the elongated members before the pivots are inserted. Also the remote surfaces of the channel members may have convolutions to facilitate engagement of the fingers, such members may be separate from the claimed members and may be of any desired material such as plastic or other substance to insulate against heat and with such members being attached to the channel members by screws to the opposite ends of the members.

With continued reference to the drawing, the device of the present invention is of relatively light weight and comprises a pair of elongated members 10 channelled or U-shaped in cross section and having curved end portions 11 with openings connected by a pivot 12. A spring 13 is located about such pivot Within the channels of such members urging the opposite ends of the elongated members apart so that they will engage the interior of a sleeve 14 (FIG. 6) regardless of the dimensions of the sleeve.

The free ends of the arms are provided with openings 15 for the reception of pivots 16 attached to the generally semi-cylindrical members 17 and 18 of relatively thin perforated metal, the pivots 16 having their ends attached to the opposite sides of such members and intermediate the extremities thereof. Consequently, when the members 10 move about the pivot 12 under the action of the spring 13 the outer arms of the members 10 and the semicylindrical sleeve engaging members 17 and 18 carried thereon will be moved apart.

The members 17 and 18 are curved slightly from end to end and may have soft fabric coverings 19 and 20 with heat resistant elastic bindings or marginal portions 21 and 22 so that the coverings 19 and 20 can be readily applied and removed. A fabric strap 23 has its ends connected to the coverings 19 and 20 adjacent the upper ends of same and this strap and the spring 13 cause contact of the coverings 19 and 20 with the sleeves of the garment throughout the length of the coverings. The member 17 with its covering 19 is broader than the member 18 with its covering 20 to more closely conform to the sleeve to which they are applied, although their relative dimensions are susceptible of variation. The strap 23 likewise provides a barrier or obstruction to the passage of steam through the sleeve of the garment thus insuring full steam treatment.

The elongated channel members likewise may be provided with soft coverings such as sleeves 24 having edges connected by stitching 25 in a manner to provide an open end 26, such sleeves being adapted to be slipped over the free ends of the arms 10 into proper position. The sleeves 24 are adapted to be held in position by elongated members 27 which facilitate engagement by the fingers. These members 27 are attached to the channel members at their ends by fasteners 28 connected to the arms 10, the location of such members 27 being on the backs of the channel members oppositely disposed in a manner to be gripped by the hands. When the sleeves 24 are applied the pivots 16 are inserted through the openings 15 in the ends thereof and the members 17 and 18 are then applied. On each side of the arms are spacers 29 for maintaining the arms centrally of the members 17 and 18.

In use, the device is gripped in the palm of the hand so that the arms are close together and the pivoted sleeve engaging members on their outer ends are in substantial parallel relation so that they can be readily inserted. In application, the sleeve engaging member of greater transverse dimension is placed at the front of the sleeve and the opposite member of smaller dimension at the rear of the sleeve and the arms are released so that such members may engage the interior of the sleeve and hold the same in smooth extended position during the pressing of the garment. Due to the slight curvature from end to end, the engagement of the sleeve will be such that no mark will be left when the device is removed. The device may be readily applied and removed in sleeves of various sizes with minimum effort and without injury to the sleeves or to the person using the device.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is'claimed is:

l. A device for holding a portion of the sleeve of a garment during the pressing of the garment comprising a pair of elongated arms having ends pivotally connected, spring means urging the free ends of said arms apart,

longitudinally and transversely rounded sleeve engaging members to the intermediate portions of which the free ends of said arms are pivotally connected, a fabric strap connecting the outer ends of said members for limiting the separating movement thereof, said spring means urging said arms apart to cause said members to conform to the interior of the sleeve at opposite sides of the same, and said strap limiting the separation of said arms and forming a barrier for steam for the full transverse area of said sleeve.

2. A sleeve tool for use with a pressing machine of the steam bag type comprising a pair of elongated arms pivotally connected at one end, spring means urging said arms apart, a sleeve engaging member pivotally mounted on the free end of each of said arms and of a configura- 4 tion to conform to the sleeve of a garment, a fabric strap connecting said sleeve engaging members to limit their movement and to provide a barrier to the passage of steam, said arms and sleeve engaging members being covered with cloth to provide a soft surfacing therefor and to insulate against heat.

3. A sleever comprising a pair of elongated members having curved converging and pivotally connected end portions, spring means urging the free ends of said members apart, enlarged sleeve engaging portions outwardly rounded from end to end and from side to side and pivoted intermediate their ends to the free end portions of said pair of members for engaging opposite portions of a sleeve in a manner to be applied and removed therefrom without leaving an observable mark in the fabric of the sleeve, and a fabric strap limiting the separation of said free end and pivoted sleeve engaging portions and falling freely between the members to form a steam barrier.

4. A sleever comprising a pair of members curved from side to side and from end to end and adapted to be disposed in opposed relation within a sleeve, a cover for each of said members having a marginal elastic band whereby said covers may be readily applied and removed, a fabric strap connecting the corresponding ends of'said covers, a pair of elongated members one mounting each of the members of the first mentioned pair at one end and with the other end of said mounting members pivotally connected, spring means urging said elongated members apart, a cover for each of said curved members, and a pair of gripping members having on the remote surfaces of said elongated members alternate raised and lowered portions for facilitating the gripping of said elongated members said fabric strap falling freely between the mounting members to form a steam barrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,758,742 Goldkopf May 13, 1930 1,822,281 Evanoft Sept. 8, 1931 2,010,153 Hoffman Aug. 6, 1935 2,104,111 Barnett Jan. 4, 1938 2,485,257 Caldwell Oct. 13, 1949 2,489,052 Silva Nov. 22, 1949 

